Colostrum is the thick yellow-colored milk that comes out immediately after a child's birth which is loaded with nutrients and immunity-boosting compounds to fuel and support your baby in their first few days of life. This first stage of breast milk production begins during pregnancy and lasts for several days after the child's birth, it's packed with protein, salt, antibodies, and protective properties all of which are beneficial for your baby, when compared with regular breast milk, colostrum is higher in protein but lower in sugar, fat, and calories. If you are nursing your baby the first milk you feed your baby is colostrum. Mothers infected with HIV should not breastfeed their babies because there is a possible tendency of transmitting HIV from mother to child. Colostrum provides all the nutrients and fluids that your newborn needs in the early days as well as a lot of substances to protect your baby against infections, colostrum is normally yellow in color, meanwhile, your breast will not feel full the day that you put to birth, you already have enough colostrum to nourish your baby and your body will produce colostrum for several days after delivery until your milk increases in amount and becomes more creamy and white in color which mother frequently, refer to as milk is coming out.
REASONS MOTHERS SHOULD FEED THEIR BABIES WITH COLOSTRUM
Colostrum or first breast milk produced by mothers after childbirth is full of antibodies, white blood cells, and other immune properties which functions like your child's first immunization, helping to immunize your baby against harmful germs by coating his intestines, and helping to shield the baby immune system against germs.
Gut health. Colostrum is higher in protein and lower in fat and sugar compared to transitional and matured breast milk making it easier to digest, nutrient-packed, and helps line the gut with a protective layer that safeguards against future infections and diseases, it also encourages the growth of good bacteria.
Body Regulation: colostrum helps the baby to adjust to life outside the womb by regulating body temperature, blood sugar, metabolism, and vascular function, and also the high levels of secretory immunoglobulin A ( SIgA) found in the colostrum protect your baby's gastrointestinal tract and help to kill off viruses and bacteria.
Colostrum is a natural laxative. which helps infants to move their bowels and get rid of meconium- the tar-like poop that collects in the bowels before your baby is born, in form of dark, sticky stools since meconium contains bilirubin, the laxative effect of colostrum helps to prevent newborn jaundice through frequent pooing which reduce the risks of newborn jaundice. As well as protecting the infants against tummy upsets, colostrum acts like a laxative that makes your newborn defecate frequently, and this helps empty his bowels of everything he ingested while in the womb in the form of dark, sticky stools.
Colostrum helps your baby grow and develop. It contains a number of growth factors such as alpha and beta and it also contains insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2, which play important roles in muscle and cartilage repair. But these unique substances not only help a baby's little body to grow properly but it also helps repair it in times of stress or trauma. These growth factors are phenomenal at their stellar ability to grow and repair muscles, cartilage, and the skeletal system. For this reason, an increasing number of athletes are taking colostrum supplements to reduce their recovery time.
Well, colostrum production can start as early as the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy, some moms start producing colostrum as early as the first trimester, more commonly in women at the third trimester of pregnancy.
For example, during pregnancy a mother notices small drops of clear or yellow fluid leaking from her breast or staining her bra while you are pregnant, That is colostrum. The colostrum phase of breast milk production lasts for several days until the transitional stage begins and lasts for 10-13days, transitional milk is a blend of colostrum and breast milk, which will eventually be replaced by regular and thinner breast milk. Colostrum is important in so many ways for your baby. It's the perfect first meal for a newborn, fortifying her with antibodies for a beneficial start of life. During that period your breast wouldn't feel very full for the baby when first feeding and it may feel like your newborn baby isn't getting enough, no worries at all! Since a baby's stomach is only about the size of marble right after birth, she really doesn't need much to fill her up and meet her nutritional needs. But the colostrum is super concentrated, so a little goes away.
Actually, colostrum isn't good for your baby but It is actually freaking fantastic for your baby! First perfect first food contains a lot of essential nutritional components that really help prime your baby for a healthy living. It's truly a unique substance, with properties that no other food has. It's a good idea to make sure your baby gets colostrum even if you aren't planning on breastfeeding or if you end up supplementing later, if your baby can't nurse right away for whatever reason, you can always express by hand and finger feed baby, the benefits of colostrum are well worth it.
